Oral misoprostol vs. intravenous oxytocin in reducing blood loss after emergency cesarean delivery

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of oral misoprostol and intravenous oxytocin in reducing blood loss in women undergoing indicated or elective cesarean delivery (CD) under spinal anesthesia.

Methods: In this prospective, double-blind pilot study, 56 parturients who received 5 IU of intravenous oxytocin after cord clamping were randomized to further receive either misoprostol orally and a placebo infusion intravenously or placebo orally and an oxytocin infusion intravenously.

Results: After adjustment was made for the sonographically estimated amniotic fluid volume, there was no statistical difference in blood loss between the 2 groups (mean+/-S.D., 1083+/-920 mL in the oxytocin group vs. 970+/-560 mL in the misoprostol group; P=.59).

Conclusion: Oxytocin followed by oral misoprostol is as effective as an oxytocin injection followed by an oxytocin infusion in reducing postoperative blood loss after CD, and the protocol may be a safe, valuable, and cost-effective alternative to oxytocin alone. Visual estimation of intraoperative blood loss undervalues the effective value of misoprostol use by 30%.